The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-01-13
pEBBY wILDERs RIDE.

There livcd a fes years ago. 10 The IN
terror Of one Of the middle states. ssur~
T dy farmer, sell-,o-do 10 the world, py
the bame Of William Wilder. he bad
wandered awsy FROM Yankee land 10 bis
younger dsysio seek bis fortune; and hss'
ng been employed by respectable Qahl'
er 10 work 90 bis farm, be had oontrived
I by true fankec Adroitness 10 win the al
/ ieciions OF tbe old mans daughser, and
had married her. His wife having es-
poused one OF the worlds people, con-
trary TO the rules OF her order. ". OF
course, tread ont Of the society, but
/ Wilder loved her none the less for that,
IL anything. he fell little reioiced at It,
for be thought il seemed to bring her :
little nearer to him.
the habits which had grown up with her
childhood and youth; she always called
her husband William, aud continued to
speak the Quaker dialect. Bat this from
her lips vss never ungracefdi or un~el-
come 10 Williams ears; for the sveetsss
sounds thst ever dwelt 10 his memory, Vas
when he asked her certain question and
her reply was, William, thee has my
heart already, and my hand shall be
thino whenever thee may be pleased to
take H.
William Wilder was a thrifty aud stir
ring man; and 10 = few years he found
himself the owner OF a good farm, and
was going ahead in the world as fast as
the best OF his neighbors. Nor has the
whole sum OF his fortune yet been stated. .
He was blest with daughter; bright,
rosy checked, healthy, romping girl. full
OF life aud spirits, and in his eyes exceed.
ingly beautiful. This daughter, at the
period which is now more particularly
described. had reached the age OF Is years
and was An object OF engrossing love to
her parents, and OF general attraction to
the neie hborhood.
There's that Joe Nelson alongside OF
Debby again, said Mr.. Wilder to bis wife,
rather pettishly, as they came out of
church one warm summer afternoon,
and commenced their walk homeward.
wish he wouldn't make himself quite 40
thick
Well, now my dear, think thee has
little too much feeling about it, returned
Mrs. Wilder. Young folks like to be to-
gether, and Joseph is clever and respec.
table young man; nobody ever says a
word against him.
Yes, he's too clever to be worth any
thing, said Wilder; and by and by he'll
take it into his head. il he hasn't already,
to coax Debby to marry him. I've no idea
Of her marrying pauper; I've worked
too hard for what little property I've got
to be willing to see it go to feed vaga-
bond, who never earned anything and new
or will | don't believe Joe will ever
be worth hundred dollars as long as be
lives.
| My dear. think thee is little too
hard upon Joseph; thee should remem-
Der that he is but just out OF his time
His father has been sick several years, and
Joseph has almost entirely supported the
whole family.
Oh, don't deny hut he's clever enough,
said Mr.. Wilder, all is, / don't like to see
him quite so thick along with Debby.
How should, ,you feel to see him married
to Debby, and not worth . decent suit OF
clothes?
/ should feel, said Mrs. Wilder, as
though they were starting in life very
much as we did when we first married.
We had decent clothes, and each OF us
good pair OF hands, and that was all We
had to start with. / don't think we
should have got along any better or been
any happier, il thee had been worth
hundred thousand dollars when we were
married.
This argument came with such force to
w uutI own pObUu tuht ho ihspo ~ ~
tempt to snswer it. but walked on IN 81
l>nce till they reached their dwelling.
Debby and Joseph had arrived before
them and we're already seated in the par
lor. Seeing Joseph as they passed the
window, Mr.. Wilder chose not to go IN
hut continued bis walk up the road to the
high ground that overlooked some OF the
fields, where he stood rumina ing for hall
On hour on the prospect OF his crops. snd
more particularly upon the unpleasant
subject OF Debby and Joe Nelson. The
young man had become SO fat1iliar, snd
so much at home at his house that he
could hardly doubt there was strong at
iachment growing up between him and
Debby, and be began TO feel very uneasy
about it, He bad always been SO fond Of
his daughter, aud her presence was so
necessary TO his hspppinesss. tbst the ides
Of her marrying atall was sad thought
70 him; but il she mnst marry. he was
determined il should be, il possible, to q
person OF some property. who would at
once placs her 10 comfortable situation
in life, and relieve him from the foolish
anxiety, 50 com mon in the world lest his
own estate should be dishonored by fam
lily connections not equal to il. While be
remsined there in this musing mood. be
recognized Henry Miller coming down
the road, aud he resolved at once to take
him to supper Miller was dAshing
business fellow, who kept store about a
mile and q hall from Wilders aud was re.